8 DAYS FOOTPRINTS OF JORDAN

Arriving into Amman, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Journey through Amman’s highlights, starting from the Ancient Citadel dating back to the Bronze Age, where you will visit its Byzantine Church, Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace. Enjoy a stunning view of downtown Amman from this hillside citadel.

Thereafter, drive to the upper-class Abdoun neighbourhood with its eye-catching white-stoned houses. Head to the Rainbow Street and downtown market and stroll along the traditional souks, mosques, coffee and sweet shops.

This morning, we drive 50km or approximately 1 hour to Jerash, revealing the finest example of a Roman provincial city in the Middle East. Wander through the North Theatre, Temple of Artemis, St. Cosmos, St. Damianus and the South Theatre.

Continue northward for 73km or approximately 1½ hours to Umm Qais, where the famous Gadarene Swine miracle took place. Appreciate the amalgam of Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influences as you explore the theatres, baths, vaulted shops and tombs.

A further drive of 119km or approximately 2 hours will then bring you back to Amman to rest.

This morning, we drive 75km or approximately 1 hour to Um Al-Rassas. This UNESCO site comprises of ruins from the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic period. Continue 85km or approximately 1 hour to Kerak. The famed crusaders castle is mentioned as the site of the ancient biblical capital of the Moabites.

Afterwards, we head 178km or around 2½ hours to Petra for an authentic dinner in a local home, savouring Levant cuisine while the host bestows you with Jordanian culture and hospitality.

Today, we hike the secret Madras Trail, looping around a wide desert plain into the High Place of Sacrifice and deeper into the Wadi Farasa. The full-day walk presents a sight not usually seen by tourists, with high panorama of the rugged mountains around the area.

Established by the nomadic Nabataean tribes, the Red Rose City of Petra is a 6th-century masterpiece. Wander through the Siq into the Treasury, the Pharaoh’s Castle, the Triumphal Arch, the Amphitheater and the Monastery.

Conclude the evening with the magical Petra by Night (available from Sunday to Thursday). Stroll through the candle-lit canyon trail, where at the end you will be rewarded with a folk performance at the Treasury.

Set out for Little Petra with its tombs, water containers and channels. Afterwards, we drive 115km or approximately 2 hours to Wadi Rum. Fuel your adrenaline with a three-hour jeep safari through the Martian-like landscape. In late afternoon, ride a camel into the sunset across the vast desert plains and spend the night with BBQ dinner under the stars.

Optional: Rise at 5.30am for a one-hour hot air balloon over Wadi Rum, if weather permits.

Head north 130km or approximately 4 hours into the Dead Sea. The day will be free at leisure for you to enjoy the hotel facilities. Don’t forget to float in the mineral-rich waters or partake in the Dead Sea mud-bath right at the world’s largest natural spa.

Today, visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the very site where Jesus was baptized. Follow the famous King’s Way for 40km or approximately 1 hour to Mount Nebo where Moses once ascended on his journey to the Promised Land. On a clear day, the panoramic view extends across the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem. En route to Madaba to admire the intricate mosaic of St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church before heading to the airport.